Jeri Jacquin
In theatres this week from director Michael Noer and Bleeker Street
Henri ‘Papillon’ Charriere (Charlie Hunnam) is living the
criminal life in France French Guiana .
On the way he meets counterfeiter Louis Dega (Rami Malek)
and offers to be his security from the attack of others. Once at the prison, they
are introduced to Warden Barrot (Yorick van Wageningen) who makes it plain that
he will tolerate no breaking of the rules. Papillon tries to set up the best
jobs with the money Dega has. It all seems to be going well until they duo hear
from Deputy Gordon. The officer has a history with Dega and paybacks put the
two into hard labor.
Around heavy rock, explosive and other angry prisoners,
Papillon is determined to find a way out. As he sees the extreme brutality of
their incarceration and it only pushes him harder. Dega also makes it clear
that he wants to leave any way possible but when a moment presents itself,
Papillon leaves him behind.
Back at the prison, the Warden makes it clear that what
Papillion will experience next is not rehabilitation but the insanity of silence.
Two years later and Papillon and Dega meet once again and the plan picks up
where they left off. This time they enlist the help of Celier (Roland Moller),
Maturette (Joel Basman) and a boat.
Free on an island Papillon meets a nun who help the survivors
of the boat escape to recuperate but it is short lived. Five years later
Papillon and Dega reunite on Devil’s Island
with no bars and no real guards. Just learning to survive in the harshest
conditions and still burning with the idea of escape.
One more time – one more chance!
Hunnam as Papillon reaches out to every spectrum of human
emotion in the over two hour span of story telling. To the crazy years
never-a-care years in France
Malek as Dega is clearly a man who has never been in a
situation to need protection but quickly realizes its Papillon that can provide
it. The problem is Dega consistently forces others to take up his slack forcing
his protector to protect overtime. As each day passes, Dega becomes wiser and a
little more taking of a punch. Malek gives his stoic character life when it
needs it and acceptance when all else fails.
Wageningen as Barrot is a man determined to run a prison
with an iron fist. He is not about to let Papillon change any of that. Finding
more and more way to try and break him, it is not an easy feat with the strong
willed man.
Moller as Celier is just as crafty as they come knowing
Papillon is the guy to make it happen. Riding his coattails out the prison door
is exactly what he intends to do. Basman as Maturette is the boyish young man
who is just as deadly as the company he is keeping.
Other cast include Nina Senicar as the Leper, Michael Socha
as Julot, Christopher Fairbank as Jean Castili, Ian Beattie as Toussaint, Nick
Kent as Brioulet, and Brian Vernel as Guittou.
In 1973, Steve McQueen took on the role of Papillon and
along with Dustin Hoffman proved he was the perfect leading man to handle the
telling of director Franklin J. Schaffner’s vision. For it’s time it was ground
breaking as the film garnered an Oscar Nomination for Best Music Original Dramatic
Score and a Golden Globe nomination for Steve McQueen.
Forty-five years later we have a darker telling with Hunnam
and Malek digging even deeper into the lives of these two men and a place that
is equal to hell on earth. The film is grim in the cinematography to match the
story and where it takes us. It is harsh, intense, and a momentary reunion
between two SOA (FX’s series Sons of
Anarchy) brothers that tugged at my heart.
PAPILLON is a book written by Henri Charriere published in France Venezuela
In the end – this is the greatest escape adventure ever
told!
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